[June 3. Wednesday. 1778.]

On this Day We sent the following Letters.

[Commissioners to John Paul Jones]

[dateline] Passi June 3. 1778

[salute] Sir

We have received sundry Letters from Lt. Simpson, and sundry Certificates from Officers
and others, concerning his Behaviour in General, and particularly upon that Occasion,
in which he is charged with disobedience of Orders....Without giving or forming any
decided

Opinion concerning his guilt or innocence of the Crime laid to his charge, We may
venture to say that the Certificates We have received { 124 } are very favourable to his Character, and at least afford reason to hope, that he
did not mean to disobey his orders.

Be this however, as it may, We are constrained to say, that his confinement on board
any other Ship than the Ranger, and much more his Confinement in a Prison on Shore,
appears to Us to carry in it, a degree of Severity, which cannot be justified by reason
or Law.

We therefore, desire, you would release Mr. Simpson, from his imprisonment, and permit
him to go at large, on his Parole to go to Nantes, there to take his passage to America,
by the first favourable Opportunity, in order to take his Tryal by a Court Marshall.

We request you to transmit Us, as soon as possible, an Account of what is due to Lt.
Simpson, according to the Ships Books for Wages.

An Application has been made to Us, in behalf of Mr. Andrew Fallen, one of the Prisoners
lately made by you, and his case represented, with such Circumstances, as have induced
Us to request you, to let Mr. Fallen go, where he will, after taking his Parole in
Writing, that he will not communicate any intelligence which may be prejudicial to
the United States, that he will not take Arms against them during the War, and that
he will surrender himself Prisoner of War whenever called upon by Congress, or their
Ministers at Paris. We are, Sir, your most obedient Servants.

[signed] Signed B. Franklin,

[signed] Arthur Lee,

[signed] John Adams.

[addrLine] John Paul Jones Esqr. Captain of the Ranger.

[Commissioners to Thomas Simpson]

[dateline] Passi June 3. 1778

[salute] Sir

We have received several Letters from you,1 and several Certificates from Officers and others, respecting your Behaviour in general,
as well as particularly relative to the Charge of Disobedience of orders, for which
you have been confined.

It would be improper for Us, to give any Opinion concerning this charge, which is
to be determined only by a Court Marshall: But We have requested Captain Jones to
sett you at Liberty upon your Parol to go to Nantes, there to take your Passage to
America, by the first favourable Opportunity, in order to take your Tryal by a Court
Marshall. We are, Sir, your humble Servants

[signed] B. Franklin,

[signed] Arthur Lee,

[signed] John Adams.

[addrLine] Lt. Simpson of the Ranger.

The Representations in favour of Simpson and against Jones, were { 125 } very strong. His whole Ship was against the Captain, with a surprizing Unanimity,
and although Jones was evidently one of Franklins Party both among the French and
Americans, yet his Conduct was so evidently wrong in some Instances, and so dubious
in others that Franklin could not refuse his Signature, to all the decisions of his
Colleagues concerning him.

Jones had obtained the Command of the Ranger, under the Auspices of Mr. Robert Morris
in Philadelphia, and I understood carried Letters to Mr. Deane and Dr. Franklin, which
upon his first Arrival in France he carried to Paris. They introduced him to their
friends among the French and Americans, particularly to Mr. Williams, and he was so
universally considered as the Partisan of Deane and Franklin, that as soon as he had
made a Prize of an English Ship of War the Drake, the Cry of Versailles and the Clamour
of Paris became as loud in favour of Monsieur Jones as of Monsieur Franklin and the
Inclination of the Ladies to embrace him almost as fashionable and as strong.2 Jones's personal Behaviour to me was always, to the time of his Death as civil and
respectful as I could wish: But I suppose that means were found to insinuate into
him that the refusal of his Draught and the Lenity to Lt. Simpson were the Effects
of my Uniting with Mr. Lee against Mr. Franklin, although Franklin had agreed to both.
The Impressions he received from that Party I suppose were the cause of his impertinent
Enquiries after my Conduct in Holland and his Wish that I was in America expressed
in a Letter to Mr. Dumas which was published in the Portfolio at Philadelphia a few
Years ago.3 What became of Lt. Simpson I know not, but I have always thought that the arbitrary
Conduct of Jones was the cause of great Injustice to him.

[Commissioners to Gabriel de Sartine]

[addrLine] To his Excellency Monsieur De Sartine at Versailles.

[dateline] Passi June 3. 1778

We have the honour of inclosing to your Excellency, an Account of Duties paid by the
Agent for necessary Supplies to the Ship of War the { 126 } Boston, in the Port of Bourdeaux. As these duties are very heavy, and the payment
of any Duties on mere Supplies to Ships of War, as on Merchandizes exported, appears
to Us uncommon, We beg the favour of your Excellency to give such orders, relative
to it, in all his Majestys Ports, as may regulate this, for the future.

The Captain of the Ship of War the Ranger, belonging to the United States, has We
understand, put his Prizes into the hands of the Intendant or Commandant at Brest,
and no Account has been rendered of them, to the Public Agent or to Us. We are also
given to understand, that in Consequence of this proceeding, very heavy Fees are to
be paid upon the Sale of them. As the Transaction is altogether improper, We must
trouble your Excellency for an order to the Commandant to deliver them, without delay,
or extraordinary Charges to the Public Agent, Mr. Schweighauser of Nantes or to his
order.

It would give Us Satisfaction to annoy our Ennemies, by granting a Letter of Marque,
as is desired, for a Vessell fitted out at Dunkquerque, and as it is represented to
Us, containing a mixed Crew of French, Americans and English: But if this should seem
improper to your Excellency, We will not do it. We have the Honour to be &c.

[To John Bondfield]

[dateline] Passi June 3. 1778

[salute] Sir

Two days ago I had the pleasure of your Letter of the 26 May4 inclosing an Account of Cash and Payments made to and for me, at Bourdeaux, amounting
to 1404 Livres, in which Sum it ought to be remembered, are included the Expences
of Captain Palmes, Dr. Noel and Mr. Jesse Deane at Bourdeaux and from thence to Paris,
as well as my own, excepting 231 Livres and six Sous paid to Dr. Noel by an order
on the Banker at Paris, for the ballance of all Expences.

Your Letter incloses also an Account of sundry Articles of Merchandizes shipped by
you in a Trunk for my Family, to the Amount of 888 Livres and twelve Sous, which Sum
together with your Commissions please to charge to the public Account, as you propose,
and I will be responsible for the Money here. I am much obliged to you, Sir, for your
Care in this Business and am your most obedient Servant

[Commissioners to John Bondfield]

[dateline] Passi June 4. 1778

[salute] Sir

Your Letters of the 26th and 30th. of May, We have received:5 the first accompanying the Accounts of Supplies &c. for the Boston; the last inclosing
an Affidavit of a Plott against her Safety. Upon looking over the Accounts, We find
some Articles, particularly fresh Beef, charged at a very high rate; but We suppose
this Article must be dearer at Bourdeaux, than it is at Paris or Nantes, as We depend
upon your Attention to procure every Thing, at the most reasonable rate. By the Rangers
Account, she was supplied with fresh Beef, at five Sols and an half a pound, whereas
in your Account fifteen Sols are charged....Your Bills will be honoured as you have
drawn them. We hope, the Boston, before this time is gone. As the Expence of supporting
such Ships is very great, they ought not to be in port one moment longer than is necessary.

As to the Plott: We shall communicate the Affidavit to the Ministry: But in the mean
time, We depend upon it, that Captain Tucker will make some Example among the Guilty,
on board of his Ship, if there are any, and that the Government at Bourdeaux, will
punish any Person, at Land, who shall be found guilty of this Conspiracy or any other
like it.

By all that We can learn there is a Junto of Ennemies in that Neighbourhood, who must
be brought to reason by Severity, if nothing else will do. We have the Honor to be,
with very great respect, Sir, your most obedient Servants

[signed] Signed B. Franklin,

[signed] Arthur Lee,

[signed] John Adams.

[addrLine] John Bondfield Esqr.

P.S. Your Bills are accepted

[Commissioners to Gabriel de Sartine]

[dateline] Passi June 4. 1778

[salute] Sir

We have the Honor of inclosing to your Excellency, a Copy of a Letter from Captain
Whipple of the Providence Ship of War, of Thirty Guns, in the Service of the United
States.6 As she brought no dispatches for Us, the Letter from the Captain, is all her Intelligence.
We have the Honor to be with the greatest respect, your Excellencys most obedient
&c.

[signed] Signed B. Franklin,

[signed] Arthur Lee,

[signed] John Adams

[addrLine] Mr. Le Comte de Vergennes.

On the same day We wrote to Lord North

[Commissioners to Lord North]

[salute] My Lord

The Fortune of War, having again made a Number of British Sea• { 128 } men Prisoners to the United States, it is our Duty to trouble you with a renewal of
our former request, for an immediate Exchange of Prisoners in Europe. To detain unfortunate
Men, for months in Prison, and send them, three thousand Miles to make an Exchange,
which might take place immediately and on the Spot, is a most grievous and unnecessary
Addition to the Calamities of War, in which We cannot believe the British Government
will persist.

It is, with the utmost regret, that We find ourselves compelled to reitterate, to
your Lordship, our Remonstrances against your treating the Citizens of the United
States, made Prisoners by the Arms of the King of Great Britain, in a manner unexampled,
in the practice of civilized Nations. We have received late and authentic Information,
that numbers of such Prisoners, some of them Fathers of Families in America, having
been sent to Africa, are now in the Fort of Senegal, condemned, in that unwholesome
Climate, to the hardest labour, and most inhuman Treatment. It will be our indispensable
Duty, to report this to the Congress of the United States of America, and Retaliation
will be the inevitable Consequence, in Europe as well as America, unless your Lordship
will authorize Us to assure Congress that these unhappy Men, as well as all others
of our Nation, who have been treated in a similar manner, shall be immediately brought
back and exchanged.

Most earnestly We beseach your Lordship, no longer to sacrifice the essential Interests
of Humanity, to the Claims of Sovereignty,7 which your Experience must by this time have convinced you, are not to be maintained.
We have the Honor to be &c.

2. This is to some extent anachronistic. The adulation of Jones by French ladies and
others did not occur after his Ranger cruise in 1778 but upon his return to Paris two years later following his more spectacular
cruise with the Bonhomme Richard squadron. See S. E. Morison, John Paul Jones, Boston, 1959, ch. 15.

Let me know how Mr. Round Face, first letter, that went lately from Paris to the Hague,
is proceeding? I understand he is gone to Amsterdam. I wish he may be doing good.
If he should, inadvertantly, do evil, as a stranger, I shall, as his fellow-citizen,
be very sorry for it, but you, being a native, will hear of it. I confess I am anxious
about his situation. The man has a family, and these troublesome times, I wish he
were at home to mind his trade and his fireside, for I think he has travelled more
than his fortune can well bear. (Jones to Dumas, Ariel, Road of Croix, 8 Sept. 1780, Port Folio, 1st ser., 4 [1804]:43).